(ATLANTA) - From Pinterest and palladium to gemstone treatments and trade shops, jewelers are sure to learn something unexpected when they attend the versatile roster of SJTA U educational programs during the August 11-13, 2012 Atlanta Jewelry Show at the Cobb Galleria Centre. The Southern Jewelry Travelers Association (SJTA) has brought together an impressive line-up of industry experts to share the latest strategies, tools and tactics to help jewelers maximize their business opportunities for the 3rd and 4th quarters.

Palladium at the Bench - Speakers: Chris Ploof and Linus Drogs, Consultants, Palladium Alliance International, 9:45 - 10:45 am, Room 103 - Are you interested in incorporating more “contemporary” metals into your custom designs? Today’s consumers are looking for ways to be unique and offering them fresh metal options like palladium is a great way to stay ahead of the curve. Find out about the distinctive properties of this fast-rising jewelry metal and learn how to best work with palladium at the bench and how to market its distinctive properties to your customers.

He Said, She Said: The Engagement Ring Shopping Experience - Speaker: Laura Cave, Director of Education and Industry Relations, The Knot, 11:00 am – 12:15 pm, Room 104 - What do brides and grooms care about while shopping for an engagement ring? Join in on a panel discussion with real couples moderated by The Knot’s Director of Education and Industry Relations, Laura Cave. With first-hand testimonials and data from the most recent Engagement and Bridal Jewelry Study by The Knot, you’ll learn how to tailor your marketing to what brides and grooms care about most. (Hint: if you think they care about the same things, think again!)

Lunch & Learn - Reservations recommended

Modern-Day Selling - Speaker: Brian Barfield, author, “Modern-Day Selling,” and jewelry sales associate, 12:30 - 1:30 pm, Room 103 - Brian Barfield offers fresh insight in the world of sales training during a program designed to help you and your sales associates unlock your hidden potential and reconnect with your customers. With more than 17 years of jewelry industry experience, including 6-plus years as a million-dollar sales associate, Brian will arm you with the tips, tactics and tools you will need to be inspired and motivated.

Taking Maximum Advantage of Social Media Marketing - Speaker: Shellie Bill, Co-Founder, Premier Consulting Innovations, 1:45 - 3:00 pm, Room 104 - Are you harnessing the true power of social media marketing? This session will show you how to use various social media platforms to integrate your marketing message. Learn how to maximize Facebook and e-mail marketing to their fullest potential to grow your customer base and increase your sales. With years of specialized, targeted experience helping jewelers develop Internet based marketing programs, Shellie will show you how to effectively utilize these technologies to stay ahead of your completion

Cutting Edge Jewelers: Using Contemporary & Exotic Metals at the Bench - a Panel Discussion - Moderators: Chris Ploof and Linus Drogs, Consultants, Palladium Alliance International, 3:15 - 4:30 pm, Room 103 - Alternative metals are coming to your bench. Find out the implications that expanded use of tungsten, stainless steel, titanium, palladium and carbon fiber will have on your custom design business. Our expert panel will share innovations, insights and bench tools that today’s jeweler must have to work with and sell the new alternative metals.

SUNDAY, AUGUST 12

Keynote Address: Who Hijacked My Fairy Tale? Hanging on to Humor When Life Doesn’t Go the Way You Planned - Speaker: Kelly Swanson, Swanson Speaks, Inc., 9:00 - 10:30 am, Room 103 - A hilarious and motivating program by Kelly Swanson, award-winning storyteller, comedian, motivational speaker and author of “Who Hijacked My Fairy Tale?” Follow her twisted path to happier-ever-after as you learn her “See, Believe, Do” approach to getting from where you are stuck to where you want to be - laughing all the way. You’ll learn to: access problem areas; define goals and objectives; review negative mindsets and behaviors; learn to think more creatively; learn to motivate yourself to deal with stress and change and more.

The Color & Clarity Grading of Diamonds - A Laboratory Perspective - Speaker: Thomas Tashey, Co-Founder, Professional Gem Sciences, 10:45-11:45 am, Room 104 - Thomas Tashey, a respected industry veteran and expert Laboratory Gemologist, will discuss both color and clarity grading of loose diamonds as it is routinely performed at the major gemological laboratories today. The foundations of grading, common practices, and general insights are just a few of the topics Tom will present. With more than 37 years of practical laboratory experience added to his involvement with starting up the GIA Laboratory in Los Angeles, as well as serving as the Assistant Laboratory Director, Tom will give you a better understanding of the cutting-edge tools and techniques of diamond grading to help you better sell your diamond inventory.

Lunch & Learn - Reservations recommended

How Pinteresting! Getting the Most out of Pinterest - Speaker: Christi Tasker, Co-Author, “The Power of Pinterest,” Social Media Consultant, CEO, PuTTin’ OuT, 12:15– 1:30 pm, Room 103 - A picture is worth more than a thousand words, it’s worth dollar$ on Pinterest! Learn how to save marketing budgets with Pinterest virtual pinboards and drive enormous amounts of traffic to your website or physical location. Christi will share how leading brands are utilizing the fastest growing website and social site in history to turn pictures into real life profit. Mark your calendar and picture increases to your bottom line! It’s all rather Pinteresting!

Trade Shops... The Good, The Bad & The Tolerable - Speaker: Chuck Koehler, owner, Anthony’s Jewelers, Nashville, TN, and Southern Jewelry News columnist, 1:45 - 2:45 pm, Room 104 - With fewer bench jewelers and watchmakers entering the workforce, finding the best repair options for your retail jewelry store has become increasingly difficult. Join Chuck Koehler as he helps you evaluate which trade shop, if any, is the right fit for your business. With extensive experience as owner of a jewelry trade shop as well as a retail jewelry store, Chuck brings a truly unique perspective to this interactive session. He’ll share insights, advice and proven strategies to give you a much better understanding of how to manage your repair business.

Gemstone Treatments & How They Affect the Market - Speaker: Stuart M. Robertson, GG (GIA) Research Director, the GemGuide, 3:00 - 4:00 pm, Room 103 - Gemstone treatments continue to advance, changing the supply of fine gems as well as the price. Hear what these treatments are and just what they are doing to the current gemstone market. Speaker Stuart Robertson heads up the research department at Gemworld International and has been tracking prices of gems for more than 13 years. An international lecturer, Stuart has also conducted research projects for mining companies and co-authored Gemworld’s current gemstone treatments and pricing class.